Process for the catalytic oxidation of ammonia and methane to hydrogen cyanide

Abstract

A process for the oxidation of ammonia to hydrogen cyanide which comprises combining ammonia with a predetermined amount of oxygen and methane to produce hydrogen cyanide and water and passing the resulting mixture over a ceramic catalyst of the following empirical formula at a temperature between about 700° and 1100° C.: W k X n J.sub.(1-k-n) ZO.sub.(3±m') Wherein: W is zirconium, tin or thorium or mixture thereof; X is an alkaline earth metal or mixture thereof; J is scandium, yttrium, a rare-earth element or mixture thereof; Z is a metal of the first transition series or a mixture thereof, at least 0.01% of said metal having an oxidation state other than +3; k is a number having a value of between 0 and about 0.1; m' is a number having a value of from 0 to about 0.26, provided m' has a value other than 0 when n has a value of 0; and n is a number having a value from 0 to about 0.51, provided when n has a value of 0, k has a value of between 0 and about 0.05. These mixed oxide catalysts can be used to catalytically oxidize organic compounds to various states of oxidation, ammonia, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide, with oxygen, or carbon monoxide with water, sulfur dioxide or nitric oxide. The catalyst can also be employed in the catalytic removal of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitric oxides and sulfur dioxide from the exhaust gases of generating or heating plants and automobiles burning fossil fuels. In addition these catalysts can be employed to produce hydrogen cyanide from methane, ammonia and oxygen.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process for the oxidation of ammonia to hydrogen cyanide which comprises: combining ammonia with a predetermined amount of oxygen and methane to produce hydrogen cyanide and water; and   passing the resulting mixture over a ceramic catalyst of the following empirical formula at a temperature between about 700° and 1100° C.:   w.sub.k X.sub.n J.sub.(1-k-n)ZO.sub.(3±m')     wherein:     W is zirconium, tin or thorium or mixture thereof;   X is an alkaline earth metal or mixture thereof;   J is scandium, yttrium, a rare-earth element or mixture thereof;   Z is a metal of the first transition series or a mixture thereof, at least 0.01 of said metal having an oxidation state other than +3;   k is a number having a value of between 0 and about 0.1;   m' is a number having a value of from 0 to about 0.26, provided m' has a value other than 0 when n has a value of 0; and   n is a number having a value from 0 to about 0.51, provided when n has a value of 0, k has a value of between 0 and about 0.05.